Country music history has what I call 'core artist's'. These are the artist's that go beyond super star status. They define the musical genre' itself.

Those artist's would include Buck Owens, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams and Merle Haggard just to name a hand full.

And then there's Johnny Cash, The Man in Black. The Man in Black is not just a country music 'core artist'. He's a core artist of 20th Century music, period.

Go ahead, name the hits of Johnny Cash in your head. Start back in the 1950's on Sun Records, go through the Columbia records years and right on through his "American Recordings" towards the end of his life.

Don't worry, you won't be able to name them all. There's too many.

Here, about 3 weeks before his death (and after the passing of his beloved June), Johnny sits down for his final interview.


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